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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> another o2 question
        
(Message started by: swimchica623 on Jan 8^th, 2007, 1:05pm)

Title: another o2 question
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 8^th, 2007, 1:05pm

My o2 came with the wrong regulator..seems to be a common problem...but I was looking around and a lot of "medical" sites (ie mayo clinic, etc) that talk about CH prescribe o2 at 7-10L....anyone know why? I've always used it at 15, sometimes a little lower, haven't really tried it as low as 8 which is as high as the regulator went up. We're trying to get it straightened out but I was curious why the information here says 12-15, why I got that much in the hospital, but we found all this other information for less o2.
Anyone uses 7-10L before?
Thanks,
Lisa

Title: Re: another o2 question
Post by gonz2112 on Jan 8^th, 2007, 2:02pm

What is really important is using a non-rebreather mask with a large enough bag to be able to take deep breaths. You need a flow rate high enough to fill the bag between breaths so that each time you inhale you are breathing pure o2 from the bag.

If you breathe slowly and not too deeply, or have smaller lungs, than 7 - 10 lpm may be enough to keep the bag full. I usually use 12 lpm, but since I started using a Clustermasx with a large bag I can sometimes go down to 10. The key is finding a flow rate that will fill the bag so that is all that you are breathing.

I can't recommend the Clustermasx enough: http://www.clustermasx.com/

Mark

Title: Re: another o2 question
Post by seasonalboomer on Jan 8^th, 2007, 2:04pm

on 01/08/07 at 13:05:42, swimchica623 wrote:

I'm not sure why many of the sources for O2 and Cluster say 7-10 lpm. What I do know is that those sources are WRONG. The sources on this site have experience that say you can boost the effectiveness by going at at least 12 lpm versus 7-10. Personally I think they just don't have many types of users that consume at that level and since some people get help at 7-10 they feel as though they've done something good for the patient, without understanding that many people will claim that 80-90% of their hits are effectively extinguished simply by boosting the O2 rate.

Why won't doc's internalize this info? I really dunno.

scott

Title: Re: another o2 question
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 8^th, 2007, 2:43pm

thanks to both of you...i think ive also heard some people say that less o2 will work jsut not as well? so maybe these people that say 7-10 is all you need not realizing the full potential that o2 can have.
as far as lung size goes, i have big lungs as a result of severe asthma, its called hyperinflation from your lungs holding inflammed bronchial tubes. my lung volume is 150% of normal for someone my age/height. so if lung volume effects o2 levels for clusters i guess it would REALLY not be a good idea for me to try lower o2 levels, huh.
ill keep buggin the o2 people till i get the right regulator! and ill order a clustermask too i think its been on my todo list i have a nonrebreather mask but ive been saying ill order a clustermask for quite sometime now without actually having ordered one...should actually do it for real....
thanks a bunch guys! :)

Title: Re: another o2 question
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 8^th, 2007, 5:36pm

Your Doc should have noted the 12-15 lpm regulator on your script....If he/she didn't, then maybe a simple phone call will take care of it.

For me, yes...I can use a setting lower than 10, but I have to have that 15 lpm to get started. I start off at 15, when the large bag gets full, I can turn my regulator down to 6 or 8. Main thing is that the bag needs to remain full or relatively so. I use the Clustermasx, and the large bag that Ben provides in the kit.

Jean

Title: Re: another o2 question
Post by Jonny on Jan 9^th, 2007, 9:17pm

on 01/08/07 at 17:36:13, TxBasslady wrote:

Your Doc should have noted the 12-15 lpm regulator on your script....If he/she didn't, then maybe a simple phone call will take care of it.

BINGO.....Jean!! :-*